Prior to that time, Zionism had been an entirely religious concept, expressed chiefly in Jewish liturgy and in pseudomessianic movements.
Theodor Herzl (1860-1904) founded the modern political Zionist movement at the First Zionist Congress, held in Basle, Switzerland in 1896. The goal was to establish a modern Jewish state.
The context for the development of the modern Zionist movement was similar to that of other European ethnic groups with aspirations for national liberation, such as the Irish, Polish, and Czech peoples. The rationale was this: because so many were not allowed to, or chose not to assimilate to the cultures of the countries where they lived, Jews had retained a unique identity throughout their long history. They were a people without a state. Jewish persecution throughout history spoke to the need to establish a place of safety which would have international recognition and the protection of international law.
Since its inception, modern Zionism has been met with opposition by strictly religious Jews who believe that only God is sanctioned to restore Jews to Palestine. Secular Jews, moreover, do not consider Jewish people to form a distinct ethnic group. They feel Jews are a community held together simply by virtue of their religion.
Contemporary Zionist activities focus on the support and development of the state of Israel.